Alien Simulacrum Alien/Ability
MaximumGrule
Join Date: 2009-01-03 Member: 65955Members
Join Date: 2009-01-03 Member: 65955Members
<div class="IPBDescription">(provisional name)</div>A. <u>Suggestion Guidelines</u>:
a. -A basic Alien type with only one ability - to Simulate Marines.
b. -(to add variety to first wave alien attacks, this will not be a skulk ability)
c. -Find a more fitting "Alien" name, perhaps, for this ability.
d. -To speak to a point, cite it by section Letters; A.d.current for this item, for example.
e. -Consider combined elements of advantage and disadvantage before suggesting modifications; balance is key.
f. -Example of addressing a difference in idea:
"D.c.current -Nobody can hear your microphone."
Rather than this, I suggest the following:
-Only Aliens can hear your microphone.
Justification being that an alien Simulacra could still communicate with the other Aliens by hive senses. This could allow a Marine Simulacra to act as a recon unit as well.
****Additional Note****: This post is made with the intent of fully representing the potential of an addition to the game, as if all of the mentioned points must be addressed for implementation, rather than being "up in the air" for the discussion. A complete approach leaves less to misconstrue and less to waste time/space having "fantasy" about.
B. <u>The Alien</u>:
a. -Cost to gestate into this alien, from skulk, is free.
b. -Cost to gestate into a Marine Simulacra is 3.
c. -This alien moves 2x as fast as a skulk (fast attack/retreat.)
d. -This Alien only has the Simulacra attack.
C. <u>The Simulacra Tag/Gestate Ability</u>:
a. -The attack is a long narrow tube with a spike on the end to collect DNA from a Marine.
b. -Ranged attack, perhaps 2x the distance of current NS skulk bite, as fast as a parasite with same noise.
c. -The attack will parasite the marine and damage him for 1 damage, causing inconsequential damage to the game play of the Tagged Marine, but lets others know he might have a doppelganger soon appearing.
d. -After the Alien tags a Marine to Simulacra there is a time limit to make it back to an infested area and gestate before the DNA is bad from exposure to the Infestation.
e. -Cost to gestate into the Simulacra Marine is 3 or 4 resources, to simulate the armor, weapons and body/vocals of a marine (fluff; marines are expendable grunts so they're cheap.)
D. <u>The Marine: Abilities/Effects as a Simulacra Marine</u>:
a. -You can't hear the Marine team microphone chat.
b. -You can't hear the Alien team microphone chat.
c. -Nobody can hear your microphone.
d. -Text is transmitted under the name of the Marine which you tagged, to both teams.
e. -Your voice-menu commands switch from Alien to Marine commands except Ammo/Med calls won't show up in the com chair.
f. -The audible effect of Marine Voice Menu Commands will be heard by nearby marines.
g. -You lose your Alien voice commands.
h. -When sighted by a "friendly" Marine, they see the name of the player you tagged the DNA from, rather than your Alien name.
i. -Your blip on the map appears as a friendly but parasite infested blip to Marines.
j. -Your map blip appears as a friendly alien on the map and in hive sight.
k. -Your fake Marine guns do not fire, but do "click" to fool other Marines.
l. -You can build Marine Structures, but not finish them.
m. -Other marines can weld your armor and you can pick up med packs for health and ammo packs, though ammo does nothing.
n. -Basic Ability/Attack. Knife: You can knife other marines for 2x the damage of a normal knife swing. This does not kill you.
o. -Basic Second Ability/Attack. Chest Burst: You can "chest-burst" out as a skulk onto an adjoining Marine. This instantly turns you into a skulk and makes the Lerk Shriek sound of current NS. This does not kill you.
p. -Third Ability/Attack. ** Head-cleave: You can remove the head of an adjacent Marine in one quick move. Others will see this if looking. This does not kill you, but may expose that you are a Simulacra to those who are looking or listening.
q. -Fourth Ability/Attack. ** Detonate: You can instantly "xenocide" toxic blood with the area effect of a current NS Marine grenade that does 2x damage of Lerk gas for 2x as long. This ability kills you.
**Abilities have not been attributed to specific Hives as in original NS because NS2 may/does use a different system.
E. <u>Game play thoughts</u>:
a. -Possible reduction of Rambo Marine occurrence.
b. -Simulacra Marine effect/limitation list creates need for in-game teamwork to determine infected Marine/not.
c. -Add variety to second+ wave Alien attacks at game start.
d. -Add mayhem to the battle field.
e. -Add confusing ambush targets for Marine team. (counter balanced by non-damage of the Pre-Simulacra Alien)
f. -Imagine walking down a hallway, getting tagged and hearing or seeing the alien scamper away quicker than you can react.
g. -Imagine waiting to tag some one, nabbing their DNA, gestating, then going back to kill them later by following their parasite.
F. <u>This Post: Change Log</u>:
1) D.q.Old: "-Fourth Ability/Attack. ** You can "xenocide" toxic blood everywhere for the effect of a Lerk gas that does 2x damage of Lerk gas for 2x as long in the same spread as a current marine grenade. This ability kills you."
D.q.New: "-Fourth Ability/Attack. ** Detonate: You can "xenocide" toxic blood with the area effect of a current NS Marine grenade that does 2x damage of Lerk gas for 2x as long. This ability kills you."
2) D.n. Added name "Knife:"
3) D.o. Added name "Chest Burst:"
4) D.p. Added: "Head-cleave: You can remove the head of an adjacent Marine in one quick move. Others will see this if looking. This does not kill you, but may expose that you are a Simulacra to those who are looking or listening."
5) Added between A. and B.: "****Additional Note****: This post is made with the intent of fully representing the potential of an addition to the game, as if all of the mentioned points must be addressed for implementation, rather than being "up in the air" for the discussion. A complete approach leaves less to misconstrue and less to waste time/space having "fantasy" about."
6) Added: "A.f. -Example of addressing a difference in idea:
"D.c.current -Nobody can hear your microphone."
Rather than this, I suggest the following:
-Only Aliens can hear your microphone.
Justification being that an alien Simulacra could still communicate with the other Aliens by hive senses. This could allow a Marine Simulacra to act as a recon unit as well."
a. -A basic Alien type with only one ability - to Simulate Marines.
b. -(to add variety to first wave alien attacks, this will not be a skulk ability)
c. -Find a more fitting "Alien" name, perhaps, for this ability.
d. -To speak to a point, cite it by section Letters; A.d.current for this item, for example.
e. -Consider combined elements of advantage and disadvantage before suggesting modifications; balance is key.
f. -Example of addressing a difference in idea:
"D.c.current -Nobody can hear your microphone."
Rather than this, I suggest the following:
-Only Aliens can hear your microphone.
Justification being that an alien Simulacra could still communicate with the other Aliens by hive senses. This could allow a Marine Simulacra to act as a recon unit as well.
****Additional Note****: This post is made with the intent of fully representing the potential of an addition to the game, as if all of the mentioned points must be addressed for implementation, rather than being "up in the air" for the discussion. A complete approach leaves less to misconstrue and less to waste time/space having "fantasy" about.
B. <u>The Alien</u>:
a. -Cost to gestate into this alien, from skulk, is free.
b. -Cost to gestate into a Marine Simulacra is 3.
c. -This alien moves 2x as fast as a skulk (fast attack/retreat.)
d. -This Alien only has the Simulacra attack.
C. <u>The Simulacra Tag/Gestate Ability</u>:
a. -The attack is a long narrow tube with a spike on the end to collect DNA from a Marine.
b. -Ranged attack, perhaps 2x the distance of current NS skulk bite, as fast as a parasite with same noise.
c. -The attack will parasite the marine and damage him for 1 damage, causing inconsequential damage to the game play of the Tagged Marine, but lets others know he might have a doppelganger soon appearing.
d. -After the Alien tags a Marine to Simulacra there is a time limit to make it back to an infested area and gestate before the DNA is bad from exposure to the Infestation.
e. -Cost to gestate into the Simulacra Marine is 3 or 4 resources, to simulate the armor, weapons and body/vocals of a marine (fluff; marines are expendable grunts so they're cheap.)
D. <u>The Marine: Abilities/Effects as a Simulacra Marine</u>:
a. -You can't hear the Marine team microphone chat.
b. -You can't hear the Alien team microphone chat.
c. -Nobody can hear your microphone.
d. -Text is transmitted under the name of the Marine which you tagged, to both teams.
e. -Your voice-menu commands switch from Alien to Marine commands except Ammo/Med calls won't show up in the com chair.
f. -The audible effect of Marine Voice Menu Commands will be heard by nearby marines.
g. -You lose your Alien voice commands.
h. -When sighted by a "friendly" Marine, they see the name of the player you tagged the DNA from, rather than your Alien name.
i. -Your blip on the map appears as a friendly but parasite infested blip to Marines.
j. -Your map blip appears as a friendly alien on the map and in hive sight.
k. -Your fake Marine guns do not fire, but do "click" to fool other Marines.
l. -You can build Marine Structures, but not finish them.
m. -Other marines can weld your armor and you can pick up med packs for health and ammo packs, though ammo does nothing.
n. -Basic Ability/Attack. Knife: You can knife other marines for 2x the damage of a normal knife swing. This does not kill you.
o. -Basic Second Ability/Attack. Chest Burst: You can "chest-burst" out as a skulk onto an adjoining Marine. This instantly turns you into a skulk and makes the Lerk Shriek sound of current NS. This does not kill you.
p. -Third Ability/Attack. ** Head-cleave: You can remove the head of an adjacent Marine in one quick move. Others will see this if looking. This does not kill you, but may expose that you are a Simulacra to those who are looking or listening.
q. -Fourth Ability/Attack. ** Detonate: You can instantly "xenocide" toxic blood with the area effect of a current NS Marine grenade that does 2x damage of Lerk gas for 2x as long. This ability kills you.
**Abilities have not been attributed to specific Hives as in original NS because NS2 may/does use a different system.
E. <u>Game play thoughts</u>:
a. -Possible reduction of Rambo Marine occurrence.
b. -Simulacra Marine effect/limitation list creates need for in-game teamwork to determine infected Marine/not.
c. -Add variety to second+ wave Alien attacks at game start.
d. -Add mayhem to the battle field.
e. -Add confusing ambush targets for Marine team. (counter balanced by non-damage of the Pre-Simulacra Alien)
f. -Imagine walking down a hallway, getting tagged and hearing or seeing the alien scamper away quicker than you can react.
g. -Imagine waiting to tag some one, nabbing their DNA, gestating, then going back to kill them later by following their parasite.
F. <u>This Post: Change Log</u>:
1) D.q.Old: "-Fourth Ability/Attack. ** You can "xenocide" toxic blood everywhere for the effect of a Lerk gas that does 2x damage of Lerk gas for 2x as long in the same spread as a current marine grenade. This ability kills you."
D.q.New: "-Fourth Ability/Attack. ** Detonate: You can "xenocide" toxic blood with the area effect of a current NS Marine grenade that does 2x damage of Lerk gas for 2x as long. This ability kills you."
2) D.n. Added name "Knife:"
3) D.o. Added name "Chest Burst:"
4) D.p. Added: "Head-cleave: You can remove the head of an adjacent Marine in one quick move. Others will see this if looking. This does not kill you, but may expose that you are a Simulacra to those who are looking or listening."
5) Added between A. and B.: "****Additional Note****: This post is made with the intent of fully representing the potential of an addition to the game, as if all of the mentioned points must be addressed for implementation, rather than being "up in the air" for the discussion. A complete approach leaves less to misconstrue and less to waste time/space having "fantasy" about."
6) Added: "A.f. -Example of addressing a difference in idea:
"D.c.current -Nobody can hear your microphone."
Rather than this, I suggest the following:
-Only Aliens can hear your microphone.
Justification being that an alien Simulacra could still communicate with the other Aliens by hive senses. This could allow a Marine Simulacra to act as a recon unit as well."
Comments
Probably you need an upgrade by the Alien Commander to enable this alternative Life form
Probably you need an upgrade by the Alien Commander to enable this alternative Life form<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<u>Complexity</u>:
I'm trying to be complete with this addition proposal to account for all possible variables.
I understand it can become very complex looking; this is an unfortunate side effect of my wordy depictions.
<u>As an Alien Commander upgrade</u>:
I really hope there is not too much of an alien commander on <i>every ability</i>.
It has already been hinted that the Alien Commander will have a lot of control over a lot of things. I think that it would be more fun to maintain some individual control options that have always made the Aliens unique and interesting to play.
Spending res to become a Marine Simulacra is simply me hanging on to NS conventions. It would be fine with me if this upgrade was completely free in every respect except for time to gestate and collect DNA.
Thank you for the feedback! :-)
-Hive 2 ability is RIDICULOUS. Instant kill? It only costs 3 res to get into this lifeform.
-This would confuse new players. Their teammates would kill them.
-This would discourage squad-based tactics. Going rambo would be much more desirable.
For these three reasons I don't think this would be a good lifeform to have.
-Hive 2 ability is RIDICULOUS. Instant kill? It only costs 3 res to get into this lifeform.
-This would confuse new players. Their teammates would kill them.
-This would discourage squad-based tactics. Going rambo would be much more desirable.
For these three reasons I don't think this would be a good lifeform to have.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My thoughts/rebuttal to your criticism:
Good points to think about, thank you.
-There is the consideration, though, that you must still first tag a marine and gestate before you can even use any of these abilities.
-It is unclear as to how res will be distributed in the new game, so res usage may be a completely moot point to argue; the number is just a number as a placeholder for now... suggest a different value?
-I don't think this would encourage rambo because if every marine sticks with a buddy from the start, they can communicate when some one has died and keep track of suspicious "marines" much more reasonably. It could also encourage map use for tracking as well as keep marines pairing up before moving out of base; a single blip on the in-field-marine's map could look suspicious.
-Head cleaving may be an overpowered 3rd ability, perhaps it could be better suited as a 4th and the Toxic Blood as the 3rd?
-Well organized marines should effectively make this life form useless, hence an other reason for it's cheap res cost.
Rather than decide that the <i>entire</i> life form is not functional, addressing what could be changed about a specific element may be more helpful.
What other kind of ability* may be more reasonable in place of the one that is undesirable?
(*there is no "hive 2 ability" that we know of, hence I did not name it as such. NS 2 does not rely on the conventions of NS 1.)
Thanks again!